Jan 12, 2012

On 12 January 2012, EurActiv.com reported on efforts in the EU to replace petrochemical material in packaging with a coating produced from whey, a dairy byproduct. The new technology will make oxygen-blocking packaging films obsolete and encourage recycling efforts.

This new "wheylayer" technological discovery supports the EU's Waste Framework Directive, which requires national governments to have recycling and waste-reduction plans in place by 12 December 2013. This is part of the EU's goal to eliminate landfills by 2020.

The new technology was developed by the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany. Its goal is to be producing packaging with the new biodegradable lining in the next two years. A related pilot project is also in development in Slovenia.

The ‘wheylayer’ project received €3.3 million from the EU. Collaboration involved scientists from Germany, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy, Spain and Ireland.